Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 21/03/2016 - 27/03/2016 2.UWT

[AlexNYC]

Regarding the big three, the only firm conclusion I would draw from this race is that Contador will not be good enough to beat in-form Froome and/or Quintana at the Tour. Obviously he can still win, but not if everything goes according to plan for Quintana and Froome.

As for Froome, this race will tell us precisely zero about how he will fare in July.

Quintana is very strong right now, but that is to be expected if we judge by how he's done in the past when coming off his high altitude training in Colombia.

Also, the GC for this race is far from decided. Too many top riders separated by very few seconds, and I could see Quintana losing a little time in one of the remaining stages like he did yesterday; he's now the favorite to win though, but not decidedly so.

 

[Escarabajo]

What is wrong with Chaves? lost 7 minutes today.

 

[harryh]

Re:

What is wrong with Chaves? lost 7 minutes today.

He's just looking for his racing legs like Froome.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re:

No amount of tt's is gonna save Froome or Contador in July if they go there like this. This stage had 30 guys with 5km to go.

They won't be like this though, July is a long way away. Let's not forget how Froome performed here last year and to a more similar extent 2014. I'm not expecting to see a great performance from him until the Dauphine. If he struggles there then it's time to worry, but even that is over 2 months away.

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

Looks like its going to be another Froome vs Quintana tour this year...there is a lot of work ahead for contador if he wants to win...

Well to me it looks like it's going to be Quintana vs Contador. Froome is the one who needs to work..

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Looks like its going to be another Froome vs Quintana tour this year...there is a lot of work ahead for contador if he wants to win...

Well to me it looks like it's going to be Quintana vs Contador. Froome is the one who needs to work..

Froome hasn't got anything to worry about. He's never super strong in Catalunya.

 

[JRanton]

Re: Re:

what I mean is everyone says we hadn;t the legs whne they lose ...but for every one in the team to have no legs ..its a team of top riders and to be beaten by lesser riders must ask questions about tactics or prep etc...

Well Nieve and Poels performed pretty much how you'd expect them. That leaves Thomas (who crashed in San Remo) and Froome who is obviously building towards July. So yeah, like I said, none of them had the legs to finish higher.

 

[armchairclimber]

Re:

What is wrong with Chaves? lost 7 minutes today.

I was thinking the same. Way way off colour.

 

[Rollthedice]

Nothing to worry about. Nairo comes from training in Colombia, it works. Aru is taking Nibali approach to Le Tour, soon a letter from Vino will arrive. Froome apparently had a great time in SA, less training, never good in Catalunya super in Dauphine-Tour. As for Contador, even if he is not fit enough, he is the only one who can pull a rabbit out the hat at TdF even if he will not be at the same level like Nairo or Vroom.

 

[djlovesyou]

Re:

Nothing to worry about. Nairo comes from training in Colombia, it works. Aru is taking Nibali approach to Le Tour, soon a letter from Vino will arrive. Froome apparently had a great time in SA, less training, never good in Catalunya super in Dauphine-Tour. As for Contador, even if he is not fit enough, he is the only one who can pull a rabbit out the hat at TdF even if he will not be at the same level like Nairo or Vroom.

Froome's obviously in decent shape. He just doesn't have any response when they start kicking.

At the moment he just seems to be plodding along at his own pace and not actually losing that much time - it's not like he's getting left down the mountain.

 

[johnymax]

Quintana is the rider I like the least among the top GT contenders. I don't know why. Maybe it will change in the future. But I have to give credit where credit is due. He showed today to the cycling world who is the best climber on the planet. Also congrats to De Gendt for the win.

 

[TommyGun]

Re:

Quintana is the rider a like the least among the top GT contenders. I don't know why. Maybe it will change in the future. But I have to give credit where credit is due. He showed today to the cycling world who is the best climber on the planet. Also congrats to De Gent for the win.

I kind of share the same feeling. I have to admit he is the best climber right now, but there is something about his riding style and inexpressive face that really puts me off.
I guess it has something to do with the fact that he looks kind of small compared to his bike. Not gracious at all. He is not match for Contador dancing on the pedals, that's for sure.
To the Quitana fans: hate me all you want, I rest my case. Mmmh that's the five pints talking

 

[rick james]

Re: Re:

Quintana is the rider a like the least among the top GT contenders. I don't know why. Maybe it will change in the future. But I have to give credit where credit is due. He showed today to the cycling world who is the best climber on the planet. Also congrats to De Gent for the win.

I kind of share the same feeling. I have to admit he is the best climber right now, but there is something about his riding style and inexpressive face that really puts me off.
I guess it has something to do with the fact that he looks kind of small compared to his bike. Not gracious at all. He is not match for Contador dancing on the pedals, that's for sure.
To the Quitana fans: hate me all you want, I rest my case. Mmmh that's the five pints talking

London prices, you must be a millionaire

 

[Campervan man]

Re: Re:

Quintana is the rider a like the least among the top GT contenders. I don't know why. Maybe it will change in the future. But I have to give credit where credit is due. He showed today to the cycling world who is the best climber on the planet. Also congrats to De Gent for the win.

I kind of share the same feeling. I have to admit he is the best climber right now, but there is something about his riding style and inexpressive face that really puts me off.
I guess it has something to do with the fact that he looks kind of small compared to his bike. Not gracious at all. He is not match for Contador dancing on the pedals, that's for sure.
To the Quitana fans: hate me all you want, I rest my case. Mmmh that's the five pints talking

London prices, you must be a millionaire

To live in London you need to be!


Nairo is strong Alberto is slightly recovering from a cold. I think they're at the same kind of level. 100 days to go a lot can change and a lot will have to for Sky. For the Tour it would be great to have a closer fight. BMC are dark horses for me this July could be epic.

 

[TMP402]

The fact Swift was in the break today makes me think Sky aren't backing him for the final three stages, which is a shame because I think he can handle stages 5 and maybe 7 and even if not, he would have a very good shot at stage 6 given Bouhanni abandoned.

 

[TMP402]

Re: Re:

BMC are dark horses for me this July could be epic.

If Porte can for once put three good weeks together, he has a really strong chance.

 

[HelloDolly]

And to all those 'know it alls' I argued with last night who said Dan Martin couldn't climb or wasn't a climber

Well he came home with Bardet & Froome...and ahead of Purito, Uran. Aru, Nieve ,Navarro, Pozzo and alot of other climbers or biased favourites on here who haven't won a thing

 

[SafeBet]

Re:

The fact Swift was in the break today makes me think Sky aren't backing him for the final three stages, which is a shame because I think he can handle stages 5 and maybe 7 and even if not, he would have a very good shot at stage 6 given Bouhanni abandoned.

They are backing him for the most important competition out there, ie the amazing race to most top10 without a win.

Many youngesters were disappointing today: Chaves, Formolo, Kudus, Superman (I know he lost minutes on stage 1 but I thought this would be a stage for him). Hugh Carty has been phenomenal though.

Martin still has a shot at the GC, I think. And so does Bertie.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re: Re:

To live in London you need to be!


Nairo is strong Alberto is slightly recovering from a cold. I think they're at the same kind of level. 100 days to go a lot can change and a lot will have to for Sky. For the Tour it would be great to have a closer fight. BMC are dark horses for me this July could be epic.

Very dark ones!!

 

[Campervan man]

Re: Re:

To live in London you need to be!


Nairo is strong Alberto is slightly recovering from a cold. I think they're at the same kind of level. 100 days to go a lot can change and a lot will have to for Sky. For the Tour it would be great to have a closer fight. BMC are dark horses for me this July could be epic.

Very dark ones!!

Maybe... But if they play the one two and steadily progress into the back end of the second week they could create problems for others. Alberto is the only strong Tinkoff man, Froome Sky's and Movistar are all Nairo now. BMC are two headed, yeah LRP has never shown 3 weeks but there's always that chance.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re:

And to all those 'know it alls' I argued with last night who said Dan Martin couldn't climb or wasn't a climber

Well he came home with Bardet & Froome...and ahead of Purito, Uran. Aru, Nieve ,Navarro, Pozzo and alot of other climbers or biased favourites on here who haven't won a thing

To those people most of those riders can't climb either. You were arguing with people who are only interested in tier one, top three climber. That's a perspective I don't share but it's consistent enough. Nobody thinks Martin can't climb as well or better than most of the riders you list there. That's just obvious.

 

[Taxus4a]

Re: Re:

BMC are dark horses for me this July could be epic.

If Porte can for once put three good weeks together, he has a really strong chance.

He was at a similar level his first Giro and he finished 7th. He has never be leader of a GT since then. Last Giro hewas but he had a crash and a santion, so he leave, but no more.

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

And to all those 'know it alls' I argued with last night who said Dan Martin couldn't climb or wasn't a climber

Well he came home with Bardet & Froome...and ahead of Purito, Uran. Aru, Nieve ,Navarro, Pozzo and alot of other climbers or biased favourites on here who haven't won a thing

He can climb, but all those you listed, bar Navarro, are better climbers than him. One stage where he finished ahead of them, doesn't mean he's better. You got some serious names there!

And if I remember correctly, you said Contador needs to attack Dan Martin if he wants to drop him, but others, including me, said there's no need cause he's going to drop somewhere in the process, which exactly happened.

 

[harryh]

Re: Re:

And to all those 'know it alls' I argued with last night who said Dan Martin couldn't climb or wasn't a climber

Well he came home with Bardet & Froome...and ahead of Purito, Uran. Aru, Nieve ,Navarro, Pozzo and alot of other climbers or biased favourites on here who haven't won a thing

He can climb, but all those you listed, bar Navarro, are better climbers than him. One stage where he finished ahead of them, doesn't mean he's better. You got some serious names there!

Of course beating them in a climb lasting nearly 1h means nothing because... it means nothing

 

[HelloDolly]

Re: Re:

And to all those 'know it alls' I argued with last night who said Dan Martin couldn't climb or wasn't a climber

Well he came home with Bardet & Froome...and ahead of Purito, Uran. Aru, Nieve ,Navarro, Pozzo and alot of other climbers or biased favourites on here who haven't won a thing

He can climb, but all those you listed, bar Navarro, are better climbers than him. One stage where he finished ahead of them, doesn't mean he's better. You got some serious names there!

And if I remember correctly, you said Contador needs to attack Dan Martin if he wants to drop him, but others, including me, said there's no need cause he's going to drop somewhere in the process, which exactly happened.

I din't say Contador needs to attack Martin to drop him ? I said Contador needs to attack to win...different senario...As it was Quintana who attacked and won

And all those i listed are not better climbers than Dan ....geez evidence looks like its not considered
He climbed better than them today and alot of them in Vuelta 2014
He has not been fortunate with crashes at GTs since then or even before then
Crashed in vuleta 2013, crashed in Giro, 2014, missed the Tour , 7th in the Vuelta 2014
Crashed in Tour 2015, crashed in Vuelta 2015

People on here dismissed his climbing ability and his GC hopes but I say most of you don't know what you are tlaking about. Best field in a climbing stage race in a while and he is lying 4th and could still make the podium...but hey go ahead and dismiss all you like...or stick with bigging up no hopers